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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport

Women beat men in World Cup punditry

Hannah Hampton of England talks to football commentators Jill Scott and Kyle Walker during Lionesses Down Under on 14 August 2023 in Terrigal, Australia.
England’s Hannah Hampton talks to football commentators Jill Scott and Kyle Walker in Terrigal, Australia, on 14 August 2023. Photograph: The FA/Getty

I was delighted to read Simon O’Hagan’s article about the difference between male and female football commentators (England’s women are outshining men on the football pitch – and in the commentary box too, 19 August). I am a convert to watching football matches since the Lionesses’ win last year, and am often dismayed or infuriated by the men’s wittering. When they start throwing pointless statistics into the mix, or when they meander down paths of their own meaningless memories, I find myself screaming “Oh do shut up!” as loudly as I do “Yes!” when an England goal is scored.
Kim Pearl
Teddington, London

• I agree with Suzanne Wrack’s article that the England women’s manager, Sarina Wiegman, should be paid the same as the men’s manager (Report, 17 August) – Gareth Southgate’s salary should be reduced. Football managers and footballers receive totally disproportionate levels of pay.
David Barlow
Warrington, Cheshire

• Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, says women footballers should “just push the doors” (Infantino urges women to ‘pick the right battles’ in equal pay fight, 18 August). And here was me thinking Fifa would have heard of automatic ones by now.
David Duell
Durham

• Weeks of plentiful coverage of England’s World Cup women, yet little mention of husbands and boyfriends. Why the silence over Habs?
Keith Macdougall
Knebworth, Hertfordshire

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.

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